Residents vote for fourth Bognor cinema screen

An arrtist's impression of the proposed south elevation of the Picturedrome including the new screen

Published:16:27Friday 27 November 2015

HUNDREDS of residents are continuing to back extension plans for the cinema in Bognor Regis.

The latest consultation by the town council about a fourth screen at the Picturedrome showed 91 per cent support of the 533 replies received by Tuesday.

This was six days before the survey among the town’s residents closes.

The backing was reflected in an electors’ meeting held on Tuesday by town councillors Jan Cosgrove and Jim Brooks. But the result was marred by the low turnout. Just 13 people, plus seven town councillors, went along.

The town residents present backed the extra 114-seat screen funded by extra rent and surplus income from the cinema by 6-2 votes.

A further vote which rejected the scheme’s cost being paid by the cinema’s operator was supported 5-3 .

The final vote for the fourth screen to be approved provided the cost was at, below or did not significantly exceed the £850,000 approved cost was backed 6-3. Each vote had two abstentions.

Informal votes among those living outside the town showed backing for the three motions by 6-0 votes and one abstention, 7-0 with no abstentions and 6-0 with a single abstention.

One of the residents present, Jacqueline Maconachie, said the low turnout was a shame.

“I am extremely disappointed with the number of people here tonight,” she said. “We have had a very good presentation with a number of figures very clearly put up on the screen.”

The presentation by Glyn Chambers, a director of the town council’s consultants LCS, showed the budgeted building cost of the new screen was £850,000 plus £55,345 professional fees. This will be funded by a loan which totals £1,282,400 over 20 years for an annual cost of £56,360.

The interest would be paid with £50,000 from the three occupants of the building – cinema, restaurant and kiosk – and part of a £15,000 annual council fund.

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